Lady Indians face No. 1 Millbrook in first round
Published 11:06 am Thursday, March 3, 2011
HARRISONBURG—The statistics are a little intimidating.
Southampton High School senior Ronnie Powell has scored an average 13.6 points per game this season. Powell and the Lady Indians will be traveling to James Madison University on Saturday for the first round of the state tournament.
In its first berth in 27 years to the Virginia High School League AA State Basketball Tournament, Southampton High School girls at noon Saturday, March 5, will face powerhouse Millbrook at James Madison University in Harrisonburg.
Millbrook, which is in Winchester, has won 47 straight games. The Pioneers are 25-0 for the season and were 22-0 last year. Millbrook’s last loss was in the state semifinals on March 10, 2009.
This season, Millbrook outscored its opponents on an average score of 79-35 and has scored 90-plus on five occasions.
The No. 1 ranked team in the state for its division, Millbrook is ranked eighth in the state for all high schools and 315th in the nation, according to the website MaxPreps.com.
This is also Millbrook’s third state tournament in as many years. The Pioneers took the state title in 2010 after defeating Greensville and lost to Freedom in the 2009 semifinals, said Millbrook Athletic Director Chris Garber.
The Pioneers lost only one senior from last year’s state championship team and has a junior named Courtni Green.
“She was Player of the Year in the District and Region and was also AA Player of the Year in the State (last year),” Garber said.
Southampton Coach Aronda Bell, who is making her first trip to the state tournament, is well aware of Millbrook’s reputation.
“I’ve heard a lot about Courtni Green,” Bell said.
The Lady Indians, who are 18-5 on the season and took second in AA Region 1 play, have been practicing two hours daily.
“We’re just trying to fine tune things,” Bell said. “I do know Millcreek plays man to man defense, and we are working on that.”
The Lady Indians’ starting lineup is expected to include seniors Regina Artis, Ronnie Powell, Tenicia Joyner and Latoria Parham, and freshman Telicia Jenkins.
“More than likely (that’s what it will be),” Bell said. “We’ll see as the week progresses.”
Artis is this year’s Southside District and Region 1 Player of the Year. She scores an average of 15 points per game. Powell has scored an average of 13.6 per game and Joyner, 10.
The 5-foot-9 Joyner is the leading rebounder with an average of 10 per game.